MissionThe Career Education Center's mission is to offer relevant and timely career development training to UDM students. The Center provides opportunities for students to explore career options, obtain career-related experience and to research and find meaningful employment appropriate to their knowledge, abilities, aspirations and interests. The CEC website Titan Career Link provides resources for students and alumni to research career options, explore job postings, apply for actual positions, learn more about career related subjects, and view activities and events offered by the Career Education Center.

24/7 access to a database of current job postings from local, regional and national organizations

Cooperative Education

Cooperative education (co-op) is a structured educational strategy integrating classroom studies with learning through productive work experiences in a field related to a student's academic or career goals. Co-op provides progressive experiences integrating theory and practice. Co-op is a partnership between students, the university and the employer, with specified responsibilities for each party.

Co-op at University of Detroit MercyCooperative education has been part of the University of Detroit Mercy curriculum since 1911 when the University of Detroit introduced co-op as a required component of the engineering program. The UDM program was the first in Michigan and is the fourth oldest program in the United States. The UDM Guide to Cooperative Education is available on the CEC website.

Participation and Eligibility

Graduate students in the Engineering, Science, Business, Health Professions and Liberal Arts can gain valuable on-the-job experiences to enhance their academic training while pursuing a degree program. Participation in the graduate cooperative education program is a privilege extended to those students who demonstrate satisfactory academic ability and progress and major in a discipline which allows cooperative education credits.

Co-op is not required at the graduate level and cannot be substituted for curriculum requirements. Because co-op integrates work with classroom trainings students in non-required programs will not be allowed to enroll for co-op credit in the final semester of study.

Co-op assignments normally run concurrent with the University academic term beginning in January, May and September. Work assignments are career specific. Students either "ALTERNATE" a full-time academic term with full-time co-op work assignments or "PARALLEL" part-time academic studies with part-time co-op work assignments.

Graduate Co-op Assignment Limits

Graduate students are limited to the equivalent of 2 full-time (ALTERNATING) experiences for academic credit

No more than the equivalent of 1 full-time (ALTERNATING) experience for non-credit

Second And Subsequent Master’s From UDMThe co-op eligibility requirements for second/subsequent Master’s are the same. Students earning a second/subsequent Master’s degree (from UDM) who have already met the co-op limit in a first Master’s (at UDM) are limited to one (1) additional co-op assignment for a maximum of 4 full-time graduate level co-op assignments.

To be eligible for co-op, graduate students should:

Schedule an appointment with a co-op coordinator at the Career Education Center to discuss their work plan and determine if or when they will be eligible to participate and determine best course of action

Be a currently enrolled student

Be majoring in a discipline which allows cooperative education in the curriculum

Participate in seminars as required

Keep the co-op coordinator informed of any changes in the co-op assignment

Secure a full-time or part-time employment offer, related to the field of study, for one academic term

While on alternating co-op, take no more than six credit hours during the term without dean and co-op coordinator permission

Agree to work full-time or part-time for a minimum of 12 weeks of the academic term

Adhere to policies of the co-op employer and the regulations of the Career Education Center as indicated in the catalog and student co-op handbook

Successfully complete at least one semester of academic study prior to participation in co-op. Note: International students qualify after two academic semesters in F-1 status (one semester must be at UDM)

Have declared major

Have clearance from the academic discipline to participate

Meet with co-op coordinator at least one semester before you intend to co-op to determine the best course of action

Be in good academic standing, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Successfully complete of the Cooperative Education for Graduate Students seminar (if required by coordinator)

Meet with a co-op coordinator who will work with students

Secure a full-time or part-time employment offer, related to the field of study, for a full academic term

Provide co-op coordinator with a letter of offer and description of the job responsibilities

Work full-time or part-time for a minimum of 12 weeks of the academic term

Post-Graduate/Doctoral Students

Cooperative education is not a component of post-graduate/doctoral level study. Doctoral level candidates requesting participation in cooperative education will only be considered under exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis. If approved, doctoral students would follow the graduate level co-op guidelines. International students should consult with ISO for thesis/dissertation related CPT guidelines.

International Students & Cooperative Education

International students are subject to the same prerequisites as all other UDM students who wish to participate in cooperative education. International students should be aware that many employers may have citizenship requirements that exclude opportunities for international students.

International students are strongly encouraged to take the English as a Second Language courses offered by the Language and Cultural Studies Program to assist them in their understanding of US customs for co-op job search and co-op employment

International students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one Interviewing Skills Workshop and one Resume Writing Workshop offered by the Career Education Center.

International students are required to submit an offer letter on the employer letterhead. The offer letter must include a start and end date and the number of hours.

The UDM International Student Office is the official source for guidelines and regulations for international students. More information is available on the ISO website.